Helplines & Resources

It can be hard to ask for help, especially when you’re going through a difficult personal situation. While library staff are not qualified to help in the way we'd like, we do care and want to see you get the help you need. Here are a few resources that can hopefully help if you or someone you care about are experiencing any of these situations.

Suicide Prevention

National Suicide Prevention LifelineLifeline: 1.800.273.8255 Text: text HOME to to the Crisis Text Line at 741741Website: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Description: The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

For Those Experiencing Domestic Abuse, Rape, Assault, & Harassment

Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's NetworkIllinois Domestic Violence Helpline: 1.877.863.6338Website: http://batteredwomensnetwork.org/Description: The Network is a collaborative membership organization dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted by domestic violence through education, public policy and advocacy, and the connection of community members to direct service providers.

Illinois Coalition Against Domestic ViolenceIllinois Domestic Violence Helpline: 1.877.863.6338National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.7233Website: http://www.ilcadv.org/Description: The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) is a not for profit, membership organization that works to eliminate domestic violence by promoting the eradication of domestic violence throughout Illinois; ensuring the safety of survivors, their access to services, and their freedom of choice; holding abusers accountable for the violence they perpetrate; and encouraging the development of victim-sensitive laws, policies and procedures across all systems that impact survivors.

Illinois Sexual Harassment & Discrimination HotlineHotline: 1.877.236.7703Website: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/sexualharassment/Pages/default.aspxDescription: You have a right to be free of sexual harassment in the workplace, housing, educational or business environment. Sexual harassment is unwanted, deliberate or repeated sexual behavior. Sexual harassment can include the display of sexually suggestive objects, signs, magazines, or pictures, or the sending sexually suggestive emails or text messages to persons who do not want this attention. Sexual harassment can also be a subtle or direct requirement that a sexual or social relationship is part of your job, your housing, or your educational performance. For example, making any part of your job (such as wages, promotions, references or working conditions), any part of your housing (such as your rent, your security deposit or lease renewal), or any part of your educational performance (such as grades, honors, course work, or scholarships) contingent on submission to the sexual behavior.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1.800.656.HOPE (4673)Website: https://www.rainn.org/Description: RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

ResilienceChicago Rape Crisis Hotline: 1.888.293.2080Website: https://www.ourresilience.org/Description: Founded in 1974, Resilience (formerly Rape Victim Advocates) has been on the front lines of working with survivors of sexual violence. Although much has changed since 1974, the need for our services has not. In fact, it has increased, expanding the need and scope of the services we provide. We continue to work with survivors of sexual violence. However, our work now addresses the entire spectrum of sexual violence, including harassment, abuse, and prevention, with an additional focus on public education and institutional advocacy.

Sarah's InnCrisis Hotline: 708.386.4225Text: 708.792.3120Website: https://sarahsinn.org/Description: Sarah’s Inn was founded in 1981 by a group of concerned women in River Forest and Oak Park, to address a lack of services for victims of domestic violence and their families. The agency has since grown to become one of the largest and most comprehensive domestic violence agencies serving Chicago and 22 surrounding West Cook County suburban communities.

Leyden Family Service & Mental Health CenterCrisis Line: 847.451.1100Website: http://www.leydenfamilyservice.org/Description: Leyden Family Service and Mental Health Center is dedicated to excellence in providing counseling, mental health, substance abuse and social support services that strengthen individuals, families and communities. We Provide these services with integrity, a caring spirit and with respect to individual needs.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)Phone: 1.800.950.6264Text: Text "NAMI" to 741741Website: https://www.nami.org/Description: NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation's leading voice on mental health. Today, we are an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.

Thrive Counseling CenterCrisis Hotline: 708.383.7500Website: https://www.thrivecc.org/services/247-crisis-team/Description: A mental health crisis is an intensive behavioral, emotional, or psychiatric response, typically triggered by a precipitating event, which causes one’s usual coping strategies or problem solving skills to be overwhelmed. The goal of crisis intervention is to ultimately stabilize the immediate situation, provide support and facilitate understanding. The crisis counselors at Thrive are all Master’s level clinicians and our team works closely with local law enforcement, allowing our crisis counselors to respond on site within the Oak Park and River Forest community.

Veteran's Crisis LineCrisis Hotline: 1.800.273.8255 and Press 1Website: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/hotlineDescription: The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, anonymous, confidential resource that’s available to anyone, even if you’re not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)Website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/women-infants-and-children-wicDescription: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

Immigration Resources & Support

ICIRR (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights)Hotline: 1.855.HELP.MY.FAMILY (1.855.435.7693)Website: https://www.icirr.org/Description: ICIRR is dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society.

Immigration Advocates NetworkWebsite: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/Description: The Immigration Advocates Network (IAN) is dedicated to expanding access to immigration legal resources and information through collaboration and technology. IAN was created in 2007 by leading immigrants' rights organizations, to increase access to justice for low-income immigrants and strengthen the capacity of organizations serving them. We create our own tools, build platforms for others, and work with partners to harness the power of technology and collective action to better support immigrants and their advocates.

LGBTQ Alliances, Support, & Resources

Center on Halsted - Anti-Violence ProjectLGBTQ Violence Resource Line: 773.871.CARE (2273) Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Website: http://www.centeronhalsted.org/AVP.htmlThe Anti-Violence Project (AVP) at the Center on Halsted empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy.

LGBT National Help CenterYouth Talkline: 1.800.246.7743National Hotline: 1.888.843.4564Website: https://www.glbthotline.org/Description: Serving gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people by providing free and confidential peer-support and local resources.

PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Gays and Lesbians)Phone: 708.386.3016Website: https://pflag.org/Description: Founded in 1973 after the simple act of a mother publicly supporting her gay son, PFLAG is the nation's largest family and ally organization. Uniting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) with families, friends, and allies, PFLAG is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education, and advocacy. PFLAG has 400 chapters and 200,000 supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Trans LifelineHotline: 1.877.565.8860Website: https://www.translifeline.org/Description: Trans Lifeline is a national trans-led organization dedicated to improving the quality of trans lives by responding to the critical needs of our community with direct service, material support, advocacy, and education. Our vision is to fight the epidemic of trans suicide and improve overall life-outcomes of trans people by facilitating justice-oriented, collective community aid.

The Trevor ProjectHotline: 1.866.488.7386Website: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/Description: Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

For Those Experiencing Homelessness

Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook CountyPhone: 708.236.3261Website: http://www.suburbancook.org/Description: The Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County coordinates the Cook County Continuum of Care (IL-511), which encompasses homeless assistance efforts throughout all of Cook County except for the city of Chicago. Contact us for if you need emergency shelter, mortgage, rent or utility assistance or you are a victim of domestic violence. We also have a small list of helpful links for people in a housing crisis.

Catholic CharitiesWebsite: https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/Description: The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same.

Housing Forward (formerly PADS)Phone: Suburban Cook Call Center at 1.877.426.6515)or the Support Center at 708.338.1724 (toll free 1.888.338.1744)Website: https://www.housingforward.org/gethelp (for a list & schedule of shelters nearby)Description: While Housing Forward provides overnight shelters that include dinner, breakfast and a sack lunch to go, the mission of Housing Forward is to transition people from housing crisis to housing stability. Housing Forward is the only social service agency in west Cook County with a comprehensive "housing + services" solution for transitioning individuals and families out of homelessness. Over the past 25 years, we have developed a unique, integrated approach that to date has transformed the lives of more than 15,000 people. Our solution is comprehensive and long-term, not just a quick fix, which benefits Housing Forward's clients and also the communities in which we operate.

National Runaway SafelineHotline: 1.800.786.2929Website: https://www.1800runaway.org/Description: The National Runaway Safeline (NRS) is here to listen whether you are thinking of running away or already have. Our services are confidential and nonjudgmental.

For Those Experiencing Hunger

Alvernia Food Pantry (St. Celestine Parish)Website: http://stcelestineparish.org/food-pantry/Description: The Food Pantry is a ministry that provides food for families in the community who are experiencing a temporary need for assistance. Families or individuals may come once a month for food. The Food Pantry opens from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on three Thursdays of the month.

Illinois Hunger Coalition (IHC)Hunger Hotline: 1.800.359.2163Website: https://www.ilhunger.org/Description: The Illinois Hunger Coalition (IHC), founded in 1988, is the only statewide membership organization that works to end hunger and address the underlying causes by working for a deeper and more transformative approach to economic and racial justice. IHC's goal is to organize grassroots collaborative efforts across low-income communities to expand programs that reduce poverty, bring federal and state resources to low-income communities, and train less-advantaged individuals to become leaders.

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)Phone: 1.800.545.7892 (Illinois)Website: https://www.isbe.net/nslpDescription: ​​The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a voluntary program available to all public and private schools, and residential child care institutions which agree to operate a non-profit program offering lunches meeting federal requirements to all children in attendance. The NSLP also includes the School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, Seamless Summer Option​, and Afterschool Care Program.

USDA Food & Nutrition Service: Summer MealsPhone: 1.866.3.HUNGRYText: Text "Food IL" or "Comidas IL" to 877877Website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocksDescription: Nutritious free meals are available for children and teens 18 and younger at many locations throughout the nation throughout the summer while school is out of session. Text or call to find a location near you.

USDA National Hunger HotlineHotline: 1.866.3.HUNGRY or 1.877.8.HAMBRE (for Spanish) Website: https://www.hungerfreeamerica.org/about/our-work/usda-national-hunger-hotlineDescription: The hotline is a resource for individuals and families seeking information on how to obtain food. The National Hunger Hotline staff connects callers with emergency food providers in their community, government assistance programs, and various social services.